The Necessity of Reinforcement

Again, I woke this morning thinking about a word. It’s what I prayed for some years back – A New Word, and the Thought that goes with it. What word today? Reinforcement. Essentially, the word (although “inforce” is obsolete, the words are interspersed with “in-” and “en-” ), the concept is to strengthen what you know, have learned, or already work, but with additional support.

Shore it up, build a stronger argument, or add new thoughts that better define the original. It does not change the original intent but gives you new words and ideas to help enforce the strength of what you already know, or are doing.

Think about it from the aspect of concrete that makes up the building block of so much of our lives. Depending on the need and circumstances, a structure of iron is placed in the form before concrete is poured. Why? It reinforces that which is already known so it withstands greater strain.

If there was a way to set our mind in motion to simply do without being told, then we would probably be healthier, happier, better adjusted, stronger, leaner, or any other descriptor you want to plugin.

So. For a few minutes this morning, I ignored all the advice I would like to dispense to those who are willing to listen, and simply…

Restate the Obvious

Here are a few that come to mind.

• “I love you.” It’s not just for yourself, but also for the person you are speaking to, and to those who are standing on the edges watching and listening. You can show, live and act out your love, but we are auditory individuals. We like to hear it!
• “Thank you.” Although the words are nice to hear, it’s the attitude behind the gratitude that is more important. I appreciate so many for all they do, it’s unwise to have the feeling of gratitude and never speak it. Or live it.
• “Watch your speed.” Okay, my bride said something like this yesterday because I love to get with the flow and live by my mantra:
  All things being equal, if we are going the same direction, I like to be in front!
  There is nothing that frustrates me more than being behind someone who camps out in the fast lane, speeds up or down for no apparent reason or drifts in and out of distracted driving. They are dangerous and make others equally dangerous as frustrated drivers. So. I want to be in front of them! It’s safer!
• “Eat your veggies.” A well-rounded diet, like the adage of watching out for the calories, is something we all struggle with. There are so many enforcement tools on the market that help you choose the better path. It’s like drinking the amount of water, walking the number of steps, burning those pesky calories, we utilize steps to reinforce our plan for a better “me”.
• “Time to go to church!” I’m not sure why this needs to be reinforced, but we are living in a time when this is something easily tossed out as unnecessary. Replace church with any other place you feel an obligation to, and you are more than likely not going to miss that, but you will miss church.

Here’s My Thought Today

Life is short. A vapor. Go check out David’s Psalms 39 where he speaks about the brevity of life. Is it not better to be thoughtful for the days we do have?

James of the New Testament details it out a little deeper, and differently. Essentially, he is reinforcing lessons already taught, and we dutifully need to be reminded.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(James 4:13-17 NKJV)

We often think we have all the time in the world. But if these past few months have taught me anything it is this, you may have thought you would eventually correct a wrong, state the obvious, or mend your own attitude – but there is no time like the present to step up to the plate and swing for the bleachers! Home run! I guarantee it!

You cannot do a kindness too soon,
for you never know how soon it will be too late.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

One Last Thought

I was thinking of those who gave of themselves to further a cause. We state the obvious quote often that is nearly 2,000 years old.

“If not you, then who? If not now, when?” ~Hillel

But a more recent approach to this topic is very appropriate for our times.

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there “is” such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and postive action.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let’s work hard on positive reinforcement steps that make our world a better place.